‘Pride Is A Riot’ open mic: Queer liberation is liberation for all

DJ Suss D: On Saturday, July 1, the ‘Pride is a Riot’ festival in Monroe Park for its fourth year featured a drag show where performers lip-synced to their favorite acts, usually with lyrics about the constant alienation they face. It also featured an open mic and pro-lesbian / gay / bi / transgender / queer speakers. The opening speaker said the struggle for LGBTQI justice continues.

[00:00:27] Open mic speaker: So many violent, militant, revolutionaries have, like, really paved the way for us to do what we’re doing here today. And for us to fight back against oppression, fight the laws, fight the courts, fight our bosses, fight our landlords: That’s really what queer liberation is all about.

[00:00:50] It’s not just our right to exist, but our right to thrive. And our right, and I just want to remind everybody that queer liberation is liberation for all.

[00:01:01] DJ Suss D: Their struggle is your struggle.

[00:01:03] Open mic speaker: And in response to this growing force to criminalize us in order to further isolate us into obscurity, we must unite globally in true solidarity.

[00:01:12] We must listen, take action to protect and care for those in our community further at risk of communal and state violence due to imperialism, anti-Blackness, racism, misogyny, transphobia, and ableism, because in working towards freeing those among us who lay at these intersections, this will in turn lead us towards the direction for liberation for all.

[00:01:36] We must work together in order to form new tools and tactics and stronger genuine relationships to combat imperialism. When we use the tools they provide for us, we get nowhere. So I just share this to encourage people to start somewhere, to truly listen to each other and strive for authenticity, because a better world is possible and we can and will achieve a working-class revolution that truly liberates all workers of the world.

[00:02:05] DJ Suss D: Herbert said the rainbow symbol can be co-opted by a system of oppression. Or:

[00:02:12] Herbert: When I look into this crowd, I see that entire spectrum of color contained in a rainbow. I see those violets and indigos, the blues and greens. I see those yellows and oranges, and yes, those brilliant fiery reds. Each of these are beautiful on their own, but alone, they are just streaks of color.

[00:02:34] When they come together, one side-by-side with another, then they are powerful. A banner that shows our strength and is worthy of our pride. To be ourselves in a world that wants us to conform: That is revolt. To survive in a world that wants us dead: That is rebellion. But to come together as friends and comrades and fight our oppressors and fight to end capitalism: That is revolution.

[00:03:03] And let them, let the elites tremble at our revolution. We have nothing to lose but our chains. We have a world to win. Thank you.

[00:03:17] DJ Suss D For KEPW Weekly News, I’m DJ Suss D.

Listen to DJ Suss D on Talk Is Cheap every Saturday at 4 p.m. on KEPW, 97.3 FM.